November 25, 2007
Winter Wonderland
While my roommates and I were chatting in my room today, we happened to look out the window and realized that it was snowing...and hard!! I consider today the first real snow of the season and for a while it was even sticking to the ground. Unfortunately, the snow soon turned to rain, but for that short period of time there was a beautiful snow scene outside. It made me think about how much I can really appreciate winter. So, why not celebrate it with a Winter Wonderland Party?!
As shown by the background of this entry, I consider blue and white the ultimate winter colors. They’re great because they’re cool, crisp, and calming. As much as I would love to tell people to paint their walls blue with white accents, that’s obviously not very feasible. A better way to decorate for your party would be by taking it back to the old school: paper snowflakes! I’m sure most of us remember the days of cutting out paper snowflakes in elementary school, but if you need a good reminder, wikihow.com gives a great, in depth description on how to create them. Grab some friends and make a bunch of white, light blue, and dark blue snowflakes then simply tape them sporadically all over the walls. You can also put little bunches of pulled-out cotton balls all around your food table and other areas to make it look like collected, fallen snow. It’ll feel like a beautiful, outdoors snow scene in the midst of your party!!
What can you serve for food at such a party? Popcorn is an easy option, with its fluffy white look and its fast and cheap preparations. But just because we’re college students doesn’t mean that we have to limit our creativity SO much � Do you have any access to an oven? If you’re in a dorm, there’s a possibility that there is a community kitchen area somewhere that you can use to make some great holiday cookies! There’s options for everyone on Food Network’s 12 days of Cookies, which includes cookies featuring chocolate, shortcake, coconut, and many more of your favorite ingredients. Show off to your friends by trying one of these awesome recipes!
It’s also a great time to make a big batch of hot chocolate, which can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can use the microwave for individual cups or prepare a large amount on the stovetop. Also, you go crazy with flavors and premium varieties such as Godiva or Ghirardelli or you can easily buy a brand such Kroger’s. Although you can definitely taste the difference in the richness and consistency, any hot chocolate will taste delicious on a cold night! Here’s a tip: try adding some mint to the hot chocolate! Buy a box of peppermint candy canes, put them in a nearby cup, and encourage your friends to use them to stir their drinks. It adds delicious flavor to your average cup of hot chocolate!
When it comes to music, I would stick to a top-40 kind of selection for this party. My reasoning? There’s still plenty of time to whip out the holiday music (such as at a Christmas Party….hmm, next blog entry?) so you don’t want to overwhelm your friends too early.
I know we all like warm weather and sunny days, but if you live somewhere like Michigan, you can’t fight the snow and the cold. So why not appreciate it by having a party with your friends!
Posted by jenmmart at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2007
Go Blue!!
As I sit watching the Michigan vs. Wisconsin football game from the comfort of my house, I think about the excitement that comes from Michigan football games. At this point, I don’t know if we’ll win this game or not, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t exciting. I know that I’m not the only one to feel this way, and one of my favorite ways to watch a football game is with my other enthusiastic friends. Why not turn this get together into a true celebration?!
Decorations for this party are relatively easy. Out of all of my friends, at least two of them own a Michigan flag, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one to hang in the TV room. Also, collect as many past football shirts and other Michigan shirts that you can find. If you hang a thick string around the room (as you would with Christmas lights), you can use clothes pins to attach the shirts around the room. Even if we happen to be down in the game (as we are now…come on, team!), these decorations should at least inspire some hope!
As for the food, there are many options that won’t set the average student back too much. Small snacks such as pretzels and chips are more than acceptable and they are typically not expensive for a couple of bags. For other, healthier, options, you can purchase some veggies and dip to offer your guests, but here’s a tip: buy uncut vegetables such as carrots and broccoli and spend a few extra minutes washing and cutting them up yourself. The extra time is definitely worth the money that you’ll save from not buying prepared veggies trays. If you want to offer some pizza as well, a little research can make your decision a lot easier. Try websites such as campusfood.com or eatblue.com when you’re looking for pizza options. Many pizza places have weekend specials, group specials, and delivery options that will make it much easier to feed your friends.
With a party focused on the football game, there are a few more things to keep in mind. Everyone will need to be able to watch the TV, so there either needs to be enough seating. If you don’t normally have enough places to sit, either borrow some folding chairs or grab some pillows so that the floor doesn’t become extremely uncomfortable. Also, while it’s always great to be a Michigan Wolverine, it’s hard to remember that if we happen to have a bad game. Try to think of ways to keep everyone in a good mood, regardless of the outcome of the game.
Today might be the last away game of the regular season, but there’s always time for a Rose Bowl Party!!
Posted by jenmmart at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2007
A Spook-tacular Halloween Party
Happy Halloween!!
One of the reasons why I love fall so much is because it's the season of Halloween! Some of my favorite childhood memories include trick-or-treating, first with my Dad who carried my bag for me, then with my older sister, and finally just with my friends. Unfortunately, most houses frown upon college kids going trick-or-treating, but just because we're too old for that tradition doesn't mean that we can't have our own fun!
Throwing a costume party for your friends is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit! It makes a lot of sense to have the party on the night of Halloween, but if Halloween is in the middle of the week or if the night just isn't convenient, try having it on Devil's Night (the famously spooky and wild night before) or even the weekend before or after.
When it comes to setting the mood, there are plenty of options that range from cheap and creative to more expensive and faster. If you don't want to break your budget on mood lighting, you can get creative with white christmas lights (what dorm room doesn't already have a string or two of those?). If you buy some orange and black crepe paper streamers and loosely wrap them around the lights, it will give the room both color and light. Another option is investing in a things like a black light or a fog machine, which can be used again but will still cost a little more.
Since candy is such an integral part of Halloween, you can probably focus your food on candy with a creative twist. A classic candy would be candy corn, which I've found for $.99 a bag at drug stores and can be easily emptied into small bowls around the room. Also, you could buy peanut butter cups and get some orange and black frosting to make the tops more exciting. If you have access to a kitchen and baking supplies, you can also get creative with making a cupcake for each guest. When buying drinks, buy some orange soda and apple cider. These will really hit the spot for fall beverages! And for the 21 and older crowd, try adding some Captain Morgan's rum to the apple cider for a nice, spiced flavor.
When you're making your iPod playlist, mix it up a little bit by adding some spookier songs, such as "Monster Mash" and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. If anyone wants a break from dancing, you can have some small pumpkins and paint on hand for people to make their own party favors by which they can remember your amazing party!
If you want some more ideas for a party with a little more pizzaz, watch this video featuring Michele Adams and Gia Russo. They have their own great ideas for throwing a memorable Halloween Party, and some are definitely possible for the average college student.
Posted by jenmmart at 05:54 PM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2007
Party Basics
I'm sure many of you have heard the phrase "party foul" before. Regardless of the context in which it was said, it was probably heard at some party, following something that shouldn't have happened. I've decided to make my first real entry about things that shouldn't (or should) happen at your future parties.
Party Dos and Don'ts
- DO decide on the ideal size of your party before you start inviting people. Do you want a smaller party where everyone can talk? Aim for 15-20 people. Less talking, more dancing, but still fairly intimate? You might want 40-50 people.
- DON'T invite everyone you know, everyone they know, all the "friends" you have on facebook, and the last 15 people you met on your way home. You'll end up knowing one out of five faces you see at your own party and you'll feel totally out of control of the situation.
- DO make your setting (be it dorm room, apartment, or house) look appropriate for your party. Clean up a little so people don't have to see your dirty laundry (literally) and put at least a little effort into decorating.
- DON'T freak out if some of your cleaning gets undone by your guests. Have paper towels on hand for any drops or spills, put away anything you don't want broken or messed with, and don't worry if a cheap decoration or two falls down and/or disappears.
- DO have a good playlist or two that will last through your entire party. Add some personal touches or songs that are particularly applicable to your theme.
- DON'T make a playlist that nobody wants to listen to except for you. You might like a lot of 80s rock, 90s pop, or country, but mix it up a little so that people don't get so annoyed that they just turn your music off.
And for those who are 21...
- DO have a variety of drinks available for your guests
- DO make sure everyone WHO IS TWENTY-ONE drinks in moderation and nothing goes wrong
- DON'T drink that much if you're the host of the party. Nobody want to come to a party just to take care of the host, and you don't want to wake up the next morning wondering why your place is a mess, where your stuff is, or what happened during the majority of your party.
Disclaimer: Drink Legally and Responsibly!
These are easy, general rules to follow for all of your amazing future parties! :)
Posted by jenmmart at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2007
Welcome to Party Planning for the College Student
When I was in second grade, I planned a Valentine's Day party for all of my friends, and as my mom was sick, I did a lot of the planning and execution on my own. I guess I've always liked to entertain my friends.
Now that I'm in college, my mom isn't going to buy my party decorations for me. She isn't going to tell me how many people I'm allowed to invite to our house, or what I should do with them once they get there. I have to figure all of these things out on my own, but I love the idea of doing that.
My blogging topic is going to be about different party ideas for college students. Each entry will feature a different type of party, such as holiday or theme parties. They will also include ideas for how to decorate (on a budget), what to have at your party, times, dates, and anything else I think applies. I'll throw in some links that have inspired me and others that might include recipes or good stores to visit.
One of my inspirations for this idea in general was the show "Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade" from the Food Network. She always has great ideas, some of which are feasible and some are just nice to think about. Check out her website.
Maybe I'll end up seeing a Facebook event for a party inspired by my blog hehe :)
Posted by jenmmart at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2007
Test
Hello, World! http://www.umich.edu
Posted by jenmmart at 01:44 PM